WWII Second Battle of Sirte - 22nd March 1942 - HMS Penelope -Multi Signed Commemorative Cover - 22nd March 2001. 5x7 inches The Second Battle of Sirte was a naval engagement on 22 March 1942 in which the escorting warships of a British convoy to Malta held off a much more powerful Regia Marina squadron. The British convoy was composed of four merchant ships escorted by four light cruisers, one anti-aircraft cruiser, and 17 destroyers.